Roaring Fork Valley- 3/13/14- 3/14/14

Continuing to start to the 2014 year off with a bang, with a couple days of new adventures over the weekend in the Roaring Fork Valley, fishing the Frying Pan and Roaring Fork Rivers.  One of my goals for 2014 was to continue to fish new waters and have new experiences, and this weekend was no exception.  Enjoyed sharing the adventure with my buddy JP, as we always find a way to keep the trips interesting.

3/13/14- Frying Pan River

Everyone knows about the Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir, as it could quite possibly be the most famous trout stream in the world.  Ever since I started fly fishing, I knew that I had to get up there to try my hand on the large trout that call it home, and it did not disappoint during my first day on the river.  After a late night tying session in Silverthorne, we left early high with anticipation for a memorable day of fly fishing on the Pan.  Surprisingly there were not many other anglers, so we were free to fish all of the well known holes from the Toilet Bowl down to Bridge Hole.  The action was fairly consistent all day long, with fish eating midge and mysis patterns all up and down the river.  While feisty, little Brownies were the norm, we did find a few of the larger Bows that were willing to eat a well presented fly.  Even found some nice fish in Bridge Hole that were willing to rise to small midge dries.

After fishing this water, I was able to see the magnificence of this legendary water, and understand why fly fishermen from all over the world are drawn to fish the Pan.  It would be very difficult to find a more stunning canyon, with red walls and absolutely perfect trout water.  I look forward to coming back to this canyon, year after year to try my hand at these fish, and continuing to learn more about the fish that swim in its depths.

On fishing trips like this,  the actual fishing only amounts to part of the overall experience, and we continued to have a great time in Basalt after we had stored our waders and packed our rods.  We met a new friend in the Riverside Grill, talking about fly fishing and tying for hours as we drank beers and watched the hockey game.  It's awesome that this sport can bring together anglers from different backgrounds and age ranges, sharing fly fishing secrets and tips with total strangers.  Finished the day exchanging knowledge and flies with our new friend.

Late night tying session

Hooked up at the Guaging Station

Bend Hole Rainbow

Fat Frying Pan Rainbow

3/14/14- Roaring Fork River

We decided to keep the adventure going on Saturday, setting up an all day float trip with Taylor Creek Fly Shop on the Roaring Fork River.  Since the first time I cast a fly rod, I've always wanted to do a float trip, and this early season float seemed like the perfect time to give it a try.  The Roaring Fork was where I first landed a trout on a fly, so it seemed fitting that it would be the first time I fished out of a drift boat.  Our guide for the float was Taylor Creek head guide Kyle Holt, and he did an outstanding job on the sticks, rowing us upstream time and time again to hit the most productive holes.  Kyle's extensive knowledge of this river and the fish that call it home guaranteed that we were into fish from beginning to end.

Fishing from a boat was a complete new experience for me, but one that I look forward to doing more in the coming years.  Floating through 7 miles of the best Gold Medal waters that Colorado has to offer was quite the experience, floating through miles of amazing fishing that can only be accessed from a boat. The midge hatch didn't come off as strong as it had been, but the baetis hatch in the afternoon made up for the slow midge activity.  The Roaring Fork is packed full of strong, nasty trout, and landing them from a boat made it all the more exciting.  We caught many of the wild browns that the river is known for, but also had our shot at some of the bigger Rainbows that call this river home.  Best part of the day was the sheer solitude of it all, not seeing another boat or angler until the very last holes in Glenwood near the takeout.

Put In for the float

Hard charging Roaring Fork Rainbow

Canadian Swans

Floating through Glenwood Spring

Blue River- 12/6/13

Colorado is blessed with so many great tailwaters, which means the fishing season never really needs to end. If you are up to fishing in the snow and wind of winter, then there are plenty of trout feeding actively feeding in tailwaters all across the state.  Sure, winter fishing is not as comfortable as fishing during the other seasons, but it is so refreshing to have such a heavily pressured river to yourself, not seeing another angler all day.

Spent the last day of my vacation in the mountains today, skiing frigid Copper Mountain in the morning for a few hours, and then heading back to Silverthorne to try to warm up a little on the Blue in the afternoon.  There were lots of active trout in the river, but I only managed to hook a few of them using small midge and mysis patterns.  The flows on the Blue are currently at an impressive 132 CFS, and the river is in prime winter condition for peace and solitude.  While the rest of the state is heading to the mountains to ski or board, us diehard fly fishermen get the rivers to ourselves until the spring thaw.

By morning

By afternoon

Blue River- 9/7/13

I've only done it a few times, but night fishing is something that I really enjoy doing.  We headed up to Silverthorne to fish the Blue last night, and enjoyed a beautiful star lit night, chasing those legendary, monster trout.  Fishing the Blue at night is literally night and day from fishing during the sunlight hours.  This tailwater gets absolutely hammered by day, but the crowds disperse at night, giving you nothing but cold water and solitude.  Just because there is no one fishing, these trout are no less hard to hook.  Even though you can see fish everywhere, your flies and presentation still need to be perfect.  Looking out into each pool, it's a crazy sight to see glowing eyes everywhere,  trout still feeding on all those small shrimp and midges throughout the night.  I hooked a hog on the first couple of drifts that I tried to chase downstream, but he was too big and the current was too strong, and he came unbuttoned after a brief fight.  Landed a series of smaller fish the remainder of the night, but not the monsters we were after.  Started raining after midnight which sent us back to Denver, but it was a very nice couple hours on the river.

Mysis Shrimp

It's kind of funny how my fly tying habits go.  I go fish a section of water, with wrong flies and then come back home to the fly tying bench, and tie up the patterns that I should have had.  You think that I would figure it out by now, but I guess I will learn one way or another.  Oh well....at least I will be stocked up for the next time I get up there.

Just having recently fished the Blue River directly below Dillon Dam, I sat down at the bench to tie up some Mysis Shrimp patterns.  Having not tied this pattern before, I stopped by Trout's Fly Fishing in Denver to scope out the different Mysis Shrimp patterns that they sell.  I like to buy a couple flies, take them home, stare at them, and then figure out a way to make the pattern my own.  I did that with a few of the different patterns that I bought.

Below is my best looking imitation of standard Mysis Shrimp pattern.  I could not find a recipe online, so I just took a guess at it, tying in materials that I think would make it look good.  It took about a dozen ties until I settled on what I thought looked the best.  Here is the recipe: Hook: TMC 101 in size 18, Thread: 8/0 White Uni-Thread, Tail: Egg Veil Milky White and Mirage Opal Tinsel, Abdomen: Hareline Dubbin Mysis Shrimp, Rib: Mirage Opal Tinsel, Eyes: 0X monofiliment ties in with X's, burned with lighter into ball, and then colored with black Sharpie.  I had tried tying in the eyes with black midge tubing, but it was too hard to give them the correct proportions.  Plus, the technique with taking a flame to the tippet material is just real fun!  Who doesn't like playing with fire.  I am anxious to see what this fly looks like after soaking in the water after a few drifts.  I'm hoping that it turns almost clear when wet, but having just enough flash from Opal Tinsel.  I know it's only Tuesday, but I am already dreaming of catching some monsters on the Blue with the patterns that I've tied.  Happy fishing!!!

Standard Mysis Shrimp Pattern